Fluid system

ABSTRACT

A fluid system incorporating a dry pipe fire sprinkler system is illustrated wherein a valve has a housing with a flow path between inlet and outlet ports, a chamber being interposed in the flow path with a sealing member extending across the chamber in the flow path, a plunger extending through the sealing member at right angles thereto with resilient means normally urging closure members carried by the plunger towards open position and a manually adjustable operator carried by the housing in alignment with the plunger for maintaining the closure members in open position when moved to a position to overcome the force of the resilient means and opposing pressure of fluid delivered by the compressor permitting fluid to flow freely through the valve, the force of the fluid delivered by compressor means being sufficient to overcome the spring in the absence of a back pressure forward of the valve.

United States Patent Glenn, Jr. Apr. 15, 1975 FLUID SYSTEM PrimaryExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. [76] Inventor: William s. Glenn, Jr., P0.76, 41mm, Agent FmBaleY & Domy Spartanburg, SC. 29601 22 Filed: Nov. 29,1973 [57] ABSTRACT A fluid system incorporating a dry pipe firesprinkler [21] Appl' 420017 system is illustrated wherein a valve has ahousing with a flow path between inlet and outlet ports, a chamber [52]US. Cl. ..'169/l7; 137/460 being interposed in the flow path with asealing mem- [5 l] Int. Cl. A62c 35/30; Fl6k 17/04 ber extending acrossthe chamber in the flow path, a [58] Field of Search 137/460; plungerextending through the sealing member at right 169/16-18; 239/569-572,586 angles thereto with resilient means normally urging closure memberscarried by the plunger towards open [5 6] References Cited position anda manually adjustable operator carried by UNITED STATES PATENTS thehousing in alignment with the plunger for mains20,59s 5/1906 Petersen137/460 taining the 9 members open 1,171,610 2/1916 Hauer 137/46 X movedto a posltlon to overcome the force of the resil- 1,633,108 6/1927Knight 169/17 X ient means and PP Plressure of mud delivfired y3,401,751 9/1968 Loftin et al. 169/17 the compressor permitting fluid toflow freely through FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS the valve, the forceof the fluid delivered by compressor means being sufficient to overcomethe spring in 174,840 1886 France".. .1 137/460 the absence of a bpressure forward of the va]ve 11,196 1904 Unlted Kingdom 137/460 3Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FLUID SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates especially to a dry pipe sprinkler system wherein avalve is provided permitting replacement of escaped air due to seepageof air in the sprinkler system within a warehouse and the like but whichwill shut off the supply of air automatically upon a break or opening ofa sprinkler, as for example from a fire, as would cause a sufficientpressure drop forwardly of the valve.

In a dry pipe sprinkler system such as described in US. Pat. No.3,401,75l, the fire underwriters will not permit the sprinkler system tobe filled with water except in a wet system where antifreeze is used.This is because such water would freeze during freezing weather causingdamage to the system. When a sprinkler head opens due to a fire, thecompressed air excapes permitting water pressure to open a trip valve.Water then enters the sprinkler system to spray the fire area. In asystem for multiple warehouses a single compressor supplies air to thesprinkler systems of respective warehouses. If a break occurs in asprinkler system of one warehouse, then one or more of the trip valvesassociated with other warehouses may open due to reduced air pressure.If no one was on hand, as at night, freeze damage could occur.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide avalve for use as in a dry pipe sprinkler system for automaticallyshutting off the air supply to the trip valve if a leak occurs in one ofthe warehouses sprinkler pipes.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a valve formaintaining air pressure in the warehouse system if a leak occurs in theair supply line of a dry pipe system.

Still another important object of this invention is to keep constant airpressure in dry pipe systems when there are no pronounced leaks bypermitting replacement of air as might normally be lost through seepage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has been found that a valve havinga spring biased closure member carried in a sealing member extendingacross a chamber interposed in the flow path, with a manual operator forovercoming the force of the spring and air back pressure to permit fluidflow into the system up to the desired operating pressure while themanual operator is in inoperative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The construction designed to carry outthe invention will be hereinafter described, together with otherfeatures hereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a dry pipe fire sprinkler systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a valve constructed in accordance with thepresent invention,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 inFIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation similar to FIG. 3, illustrating thevalve in a closed position, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a closure member of the sealingmember of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing illustrates a fluidsystem having nozzle means for dispensing fluid and a compressor meanssupplying fluid under pressure to the nozzle means. A valve, interposedbetween the compressor means and the nozzle means so as to control theflow of fluid to the nozzle means, includes a housing A having a flowpath between inlet and outlet ports therein. The housing has a chamber Binterposed in the flow path. A sealing member C extends across thechamber having a passageway for fluid therein for fluid to flowtherethrough. A plunger D extends through the sealing member at rightangles thereto. A closure member E is carried by the plunger for closingthe passageway. Resilient means F normally urge the closure member toopen position but is overcome by the force of fluid delivered by thecompressor means upon a pressure drop of sufficient magnitude occurringat the outlet of the housing.

In the dry pipe system illustrated, a manually adjustable operator G isthreadably carried by the housing in alignment with the plunger formaintaining the closure member in open position when moved to a positionto overcome the force of the resilient means and intake air pressure topermit air delivered by the compressor to flow freely through the valve.

The valve housing A is preferably constructed of noncorrosive metal,such as brass or stainless steel. A hole is drilled and threaded in eachend of the housing forming inlet and outlet ports 10 and 11 respectivelyto receive a conduit, such as a water pipe, at each end of the housing.

Inlet pipe 12 is threadably received as at 13 within the inlet port 10and an outlet pipe 14 is threadably received as at 15 within the outletport 11.

A chamber B is carried in said housing interposed in a flow path throughthe housing. The flow path may include an enlarged inlet portion 16 andan enlarged outlet portion 17 communicating with the inlet pipe 12 andthe outlet pipe 14, respectively. The inlet path further includespassageways 18 and 19, respectively communicating with the chamber B.The passageway 18 communicates between the inlet area 16 and the chamberB at a lower portion thereof while the passageway communicates betweenthe chamber B and the outlet portion 17 in an upper portion of thehousing A.

The chamber B is formed by first drilling a hole at right angles to thehousing from the top, as illustrated in the drawing, and then enlargingand threading an upper portion thereof as at 20. A sealing member Cextends across the chamber and has a passageway therein for air to flowtherethrough. The sealing member C is threadably received as at 21within the upper portion of the chamber 20 and is sealed as at 22against a reduced portion of the lower portion of the chamber 23.

The sealing member has a passageway which includes a plurality of holes24 disposed centrally therein.

A plunger D extends through the sealing member C at right angles theretoand carries a closure member E at each end thereof. The closure membersE are threadably received as at 25 on each end of the plunger of valvestem D. Each of the closure members carries a sealing member such as anO ring 26 on the inner surface thereof to seal against the sealingmember C depending upon which surface is in sealing engagementtherewith.

Resilient means F include light compression springs carried between thesealing member and respective closure members. The resilient means Fnormally urges the closure member to open position but such may beovercome by the force delivered as by compressor means through the inletpipe 12 provided a pressure drop of sufficient magnitude occurs at theoutlet end of the housing. Similarily the resilient means may beovercome upon the occurrence of a sufficient pressure drop at the inletend of the housing.

A manually adjustable operator G is threadably carried by the housing inalignment with the plunger D for maintaining the closure member in openposition when moved to a position to overcome the force of the springs Fand inlet air pressure to permit air delivered by the compressor to flowfreely through the valve. The operator G includes a vertical pusher rod27 threadably carried as at 28 within the vertical housing 29. Thehousing 29 is threadably received as at 30 within the upper portion 20of the chamber B and is provided with sealing means 31. A suitablehandle 32 is provided to facilitate the relative vertical position ofthe lowermost end of the pusher rod 27. The pusher rod 27 may be loweredto dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 3 for maintaining theclosure member in open position illustrated to permit the flow of airthrough the valve as desired.

The particular fluid system illustrated is in the form of a firesprinkler system as for a warehouse and includes nozzle means 33 in theform of pipe headders carrying spaced nozzles 33a. A suitable compressorand the like is illustrated at 34 supplying fluid, in this case, air andthe like, through a supply pipe or service line 35 to the various inletpipes 12. The air flows through the valves described above into theoutlet pipes 14 for supplying air or other fluid under pressure to therespective trip valves 38. Water is supplied through the line 37 to thetrip valve 38. Supply pipes 36 are provided in connection with each tripvalve for supplying the several nozzle systems 33 located as inrespective warehouses W. The trip valves have a closure member 39 hingedas at 40 which may be raised from lowered position as illustrated inFIG. 1 to the vertical position also shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 aswhen a break or fire occurs in the nozzle system of a warehouse.

The valves are installed in the air service line 35,just outside of therespective trip valve 38. The wheel stem or pusher rod 27 is run inagainst the plunger D. This holds both closure members E open until thedesired system pressure is reached. The wheel stem is then run all theway out to allow the two valve heads to be free to function. Unless aleak occurs in the system, the two closure members E will remain open.This allows a small, but continuous air flow into the system, to replaceany seepage that might exist and thereby maintain the year arounddesired system pressure.

A break or opening in one warehouse system will cause the intake closuremember E valve to close, as no opposing pressure is retained in theexhaused associated system. This shuts off the air supply from thesprinkler of the disabled building. This allows the other buildingsystems to continue receiving air and consequently not to trip. When theintake closure member E closes due to a break, water is not impeded,going to a fire, as no compressed air is mixed with the water. Inreverse to the above, should a break occur in the service line, allexhaust closure members in all warehouses would seal, thus. holding thecompressed air in all of the buildings, until repairs can be made.

This same valve, by substituting a stronger resilient means could beused by filling stations and possibly others to shut off the air at acompressor tank in the event of a break in the service line. This wouldcut off the compressor, and prevent it from running continuously allnight which could cause severe damage. The several functions of thisvalve, when installed in a fire protection sprinkler system, willgreatly improve the efficiency of any system, including wet pipesystems.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in a dry pipe fire sprinkler system having several sprinklernozzle systems for dispensing water and a compressor supplying air underpressure to the sprinkler nozzle systems, a valve interposed betweensaid compressor and each of said nozzle systems so as to control theflow of air to said nozzle systems comprising:

A. a housing having a flow path between inlet and outlet ports in saidhousing;

B. said housing having a chamber interposed in said flow path;

C. a sealing member extending across said chamber having a passagewayfor air to flow therethrough;

D. a plunger extending through said sealing member at right anglesthereto;

E. a closure member carried by said plunger for closing said passageway;

F. resilient means normally urging said closure member to open positionbut which is overcome by the force of air delivered by said compressormeans upon a pressure drop of sufficient magnitude occurring at theoutlet of said housing; and

G. a manually adjustable operator threadably carried by said housing inalignment with said plunger being operable to maintain said closuremember in open position when moved to a position to overcome the forceof said resilient means and the force of air delivered by saidcompressor to permit air delivered by said compressor to flow freelythrough the valve to build up air pressure in the nozzle systemassociated therewith.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including: a second closure membercarried by said plunger on a side of said sealing member opposite saidfirst mentioned closure member, and second resilient means normallyurging said second closure member to open position but which is overcomeby the force of air in the nozzle system associated therewith should airpressure be reduced on the compressor side of the valve.

3. For use in a fluid system having nozzle means for dispensing fluidfrom a source and a supply means for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid nozzle means, a valve interposed between said supply means and saidnozzle means so as to control the flow of fluid to said nozzle meanscomprising:

A. a housing having a flow path between inlet and outlet ports in saidhousing;

B. said housing having a chamber interposed in said flor path;

C. a sealing member extending across said chamber having a passagewaytherein for fluid to flow therethrough;

D. a plunger extending through said sealing member at right anglesthereto;

E. a closure member carried by said plunger for closing said passageway;

F. resilient means normally urging said closure member to open positionbut which is overcome by the force of fluid delivered by said supplymeans upon a pressure drop of sufficient magnitude occurring open andclose depending on a pressure drop in said housing.

1. For use in a dry pipe fire sprinkler system having several sprinklernozzle systems for dispensing water and a compressor supplying air underpressure to the sprinkler nozzle systems, a valve interposed betweensaid compressor and each of said nozzle systems so as to control theflow of air to said nozzle systems comprising: A. a housing having aflow path between inlet and outlet ports in said housing; B. saidhousing having a chamber interposed in said flow path; C. a sealingmember extending across said chamber having a passageway for air to flowtherethrough; D. a plunger extending through said sealing member atright angles thereto; E. a closure member carried by said plunger forclosing said passageway; F. resilient means normally urging said closuremember to open position but which is overcome by the force of airdelivered by said compressor means upon a pressure drop of sufficientmagnitude occurring at the outlet of said housing; and G. a manuallyadjustable operator threadably carried by said housing in alignment withsaid plunger being operable to maintain said closure member in openposition when moved to a position to overcome the force of saidresilient means and the force of air delivered by said compressor topermit air delivered by said compressor to flow freely through the valveto build up air pressure in the nozzle system associated therewith. 2.The structure set forth in claim 1 including: a second closure membercarried by said plunger on a side of said sealing member opposite saidfirst mentioned closure member, and second resilient means normallyurging said second closure member to open position but which is overcomeby the force of air in the nozzle system associated therewith should airpressure be reduced on the compressor side of the valve.
 3. For use in afluid system having nozzle means for dispensing fluid from a source anda supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said nozzle means,a valve interposed between said supply means and said nozzle means so asto control the flow of fluid to said nozzle means comprising: A. ahousing having a flow path between inlet and outlet ports in saidhousing; B. said housing having a chamber interposed in said flor path;C. a sealing member extending across said chamber having a passagewaytherein for fluid to flow therethrough; D. a plunger extending throughsaid sealing member at right angles thereto; E. a closure member carriedby said plunger for closing said passageway; F. resilient means normallyurging said closure member to open position but which is overcome by theforce of fluid delivered by said supply means upon a pressure drop ofsufficient magnitude occurring at the outlet of said housing; G. amanually adjustable operator threadably carried by said housing inalignment with said plunger for maintaining said closure member in openposition when moved to a first position to overcome the force of saidresilient means and intake fluid pressure to permit fluid delivered bysaid compressor to flow freely through the valve; and H. said manuallyadjustable operator being moved to a second position during normaloperation of said valve permitting said closure member to freely openand close depending on a pressure drop in said housing.